U.S. patent application number 11/678447 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for flashlight with touch sensing on/off operation.
Invention is credited to Wing Kit Lui.
Application Number | 20070133201 11/678447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34989572 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070133201 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lui; Wing Kit |
June 14, 2007 |
FLASHLIGHT WITH TOUCH SENSING ON/OFF OPERATION
Abstract
A flashlight senses when it is picked up, and then automatically
turns on. When the flashlight is released or set back down, it
automatically turns off. Touch or contact sensors sense the touch
of a human hand, causing a circuit in the flashlight to switch on a
light source, such as an LED. The flashlight is advantageously
designed so that when grasped or picked up, the fingers of the
user's hand lay over touch sensors. Various types of touch sensors
may be used. The touch sensors may operate electrically, and
without any movement, or moving parts.
Inventors: |
Lui; Wing Kit; (Kowloon,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERKINS COIE LLP
POST OFFICE BOX 1208
SEATTLE
WA
98111-1208
US
|
Family ID: |
34989572 |
Appl. No.: |
11/678447 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11127475 |
May 12, 2005 |
7185999 |
|
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11678447 |
Feb 23, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21Y 2115/10 20160801;
F21L 4/005 20130101; F21V 23/0414 20130101; F21V 23/0485 20130101;
F21V 23/0442 20130101; F21V 33/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/205 |
International
Class: |
F21L 4/04 20060101
F21L004/04 |
Claims
1. A flashlight comprising: a flashlight housing; a light source
and at least one battery supported at least in part by the housing,
and with the light source at a front end of the housing; first and
second elongated touch contacts on an outside surface of the
housing, a power switch on the housing; and a circuit for linking
the power source to the light source when an electrical connection
is made between the first and second contacts, and when the power
switch is in an on position.
2. The flashlight of claim 1 with the flashlight housing having at
least one substantially flat surface, and with at least one of
touch contacts on the substantially flat surface.
3. The flashlight of claim 1 with the circuit comprising touch
sensing means for sensing a touch of a hand onto the touch
contacts.
4. The flashlight of claim 3 with the touch sensing means sensing
touch via conduction of electrical current between the touch
contacts.
5. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the touch contacts are
substantially immovably fixed on the housing.
6. The flashlight of claim 1 with the touch contacts strips on
opposite sides of the housing.
7. A flashlight comprising: a substantially rigid elongated
housing; at least one LED at a front end of the housing; at least
one battery in the housing; first and second touch contacts
substantially immovably fixed in place on opposite sides of the
housing; circuit means for connecting the battery to the light
source when the first and second contacts are both contacted by a
user's hand.
8. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein the circuit means operates
electrically and without need for any mechanical movement of any
element of the flashlight.
9. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein the housing is substantially
cylindrical and with the contact bars substantially parallel to
each other and to the cylindrical housing.
10. The flashlight of claim 7 with the circuit means further
comprising power switch on the housing.
Description
[0001] This Application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/127,475 filed May 12, 2005 and now pending,
and incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Flashlights typically have an external switch used to turn
the flashlight on and off. Various switches have been used on
flashlights, including push-button switches, sliding switches,
twist-on/twist-off switches, dial switches, and many others. These
switches are generally mechanically actuated by the user's finger
or thumb. However, switch actuation is necessary to turn the
flashlight on. This can result in difficulty and/or delay,
especially in dark conditions, where the switch cannot be seen, and
when the user is not familiar with the flashlight design.
[0003] Other types of flashlights have switches that automatically
turn the flashlight on when the flashlight is removed from a
charger, wall socket, or other location Alternatively, some
flashlights automatically switch on when immersed in water, or when
moved into a specific vertical or horizontal position, or when some
other event occurs. While these automatic-on designs avoid the need
for manually switching the flashlight on, they can also result in
premature batter depletion.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved flashlight
design.
SUMMARY
[0005] A new flashlight senses when it is picked up, and then
automatically turns on. When the flashlight is released or set back
down, it automatically turns off. In one aspect, the flashlight may
have touch or contact sensors that can sense the touch of a human
hand. The flashlight is advantageously designed so that when
grasped or picked up, the fingers of the user's hand lay over touch
sensors, causing the flashlight to turn on. Various types of touch
sensors may be used. The touch sensors may operate electrically,
and without any movement, or moving parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In the drawings, wherein the same element number indicates
the same element, in each of the views:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front and top perspective view of the
flashlight.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a back and top perspective view of the flashlight
shown in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the flashlight shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the flashlight shown in FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the flashlight
shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for use in the
flashlight shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a front, top and right side perspective view of a
keychain light.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a back, top and left side perspective view of the
keychain light shown in FIG. 7.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a bottom, front, and left side perspective view of
mirror light.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a bottom, front and right side perspective view
of the mirror light shown in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The drawings show one of many different designs that may be
used. The drawings are therefore simply examples of the flashlight
which may be designed. The drawings are not intended as a statement
of the invention, or as limiting of the invention.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a flashlight 10 has a body or housing
12. A light source 24, such as an LED or incandescent bulb, and
optionally a lens 22, are at a front end 16 of the housing 12. A
door or cover 26 may be provided at the back end 18. The door 26
may be opened to access a battery compartment, to change the
batteries. The flashlight advantageously may have a flat bottom
surface 20. The bottom surface 20 may be formed as part of the
housing 12, or as shown in the Figures, a base 14 may form the
bottom surface 20.
[0019] Referring now also to FIG. 5, in the design shown, a
separate base 14 is used. First and second contact bars or strips
36 are located on the bottom or outside facing surface of the base
14. The contact bars 36 may be generally parallel to each other, as
well as parallel to a central axis of the generally cylindrical
housing 12. If used, the base 14 may have an upward angled or
extending front plate 38 and a rear plate 40. Then the front plate
38 may surround or be adjacent to the lens 22, and the door 26 can
be supported on the back plate 40. A reflector 62 may optionally be
provided around the light source 24. One or more batteries 44 can
be placed in a battery compartment or space, formed between the
base 14 and a battery cover or frame 42.
[0020] A mechanical micro-switch 54 can be supported in a switch
holder 56 on the battery cover 42, actuated by a push button 52
biased outwardly by a spring 50. Front and back end battery
contacts 46 and 48 make electrical connections to the batteries. A
circuit board 60, if used, can be attached onto posts on the
battery cover 42. The base 14 and housing 12 may be attached
together via screws 66 in stand offs 64, as shown in FIG. 5. The
specifics of the part selections, placement and mechanical
attachment are not critical and can of course be varied, within the
scope of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows the electrical connections and circuit 65 of
the flashlight 10. The positive side of the batteries 44 connects
to the on/off switch 54. The touch or contact bars 36, which may be
carbon contact bars, are connected across resistor R2 and
transistor Q5, with further connections as shown between the other
components, discrete or integrated. The light source or LED 24 is
connected across Q1. Again, the design specifics of the circuit and
electrical connections are not critical, so long as the automatic
touch/turn function is provided.
[0022] In use, with the switch 54 in the off position, the
flashlight remains off at all times, and battery power is
conserved. With the switch 54 in the on position, the contacts 36
ordinarily act as an open switch. In this condition, the circuit 65
does not supply current to the LED 24. When the flashlight is
grasped or picked up, the user's hand bridges the contact bars 36.
The contact bars then act as a closed switch. The circuit 65 is
switched on and current is provided to the LED 24. This continues
until the flashlight is released by the user.
[0023] The flashlight 10 may include the housing 12, the base 14,
or both in the design shown. The term housing element designates a
housing, or a base, or a combination of a housing and a base. The
contacts or contact bars 36 are on, or extend through to, an
outside surface of the housing or the base, if used. The housing
and/or base are typically made of plastic or metal, and are
substantially rigid and incompressible, at least in ordinary use.
The contact bars provide for touch detection without substantial
deflection or movement. The contact bars remain stationary at all
times, even when the flashlight is grasped or held in the hand of a
user. The shape of flashlight therefore remains constant at all
times, providing a secure feel in the user's hand. The contact bars
may not necessarily provide any noticeable tactile feel to the user
at all. Although shown in FIG. 5 as separate elements, the contact
bars 36 may be made integral with a base 14, or with a housing
12.
[0024] Other forms of the contact bars 36 may of course also be
used, to sense touch. These include other electrical conduction or
continuity elements, such as contact points or arrays, inductive or
capacitive change sensors, pressure sensitive elements, heat
sensitive elements, optical devices, etc.
[0025] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a keychain light 70 also having a
touch/on feature. The keychain light 70 has a light source or LED
24 on a body or housing 74. Touch or contact bars, strips or
sensors 76 are located on opposite sides of the housing 74. The
contact bars 76 operate in a way similar to the contact bars 36
shown in FIG. 5. When the keychain light 70 is picked up, the LED
24 turns on, as explained above in connection with the flashlight
10.
[0026] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a touch light mirror 80 also having a
touch/on feature as described above. The touch light mirror 80 may
have contact strips 84 on opposite sides of a case 82. When the
case is picked up, and the user's hand touches the contact strips
84, a light or LED 86 in or on the case turns on. The touch light
mirror 80 may have one or more flip open covers 88. If so, the
circuit 65 used in the touch light mirror may also be designed so
that the light 86 remains off until a cover is opened.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 7-10, the invention relates to other
devices having a light source, in addition to flashlights. The term
flashlight, as used here, means these other types of devices as
well.
[0028] Thus, a novel flashlight has been shown and described.
Various changes and substitutions can of course be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The
invention, therefore, should not be limited, except by the
following claims, and their equivalents.
* * * * *